Kate Bush has been given the go-ahead to use the text of James Joyce's Ulysses for a song, more than 20 years after asking.

The reclusive singer, who next month returns with her first album for six years, was originally prevented from using the Irish writer's words, causing her to write a new lyric to the track.

But now she has been able to rework the song after finally being granted permission.

Kate had wanted to use the words of character Molly Bloom from Ulysses, which she had set to music.

She said: "When I asked for permission to use the text I was refused, which was disappointing. I then wrote my own lyrics for the song although I felt that the original idea had been more interesting. Well, I'm not James Joyce am I?"

The track went on to be retitled The Sensual World, the title track of her 1989 album. She has now re-recorded the song for Director's Cut, a collection of older songs which have been revamped and re-recorded.

Kate said: "When I came to work on this project I thought I would ask for permission again and this time they said yes. It is now re-titled Flower Of the Mountain and I am delighted that I have had the chance to fulfil the original concept".

The 52-year-old singer has also enlisted her son as a vocalist on her new single Deeper Understanding which was premiered today.

Kate - who largely disappeared from public view to bring up her son Albert - has included him as the voice of a computer program on the song.